THIS DAY IN ECONOMIC HISTORY

July 11, 1985

MyEconEdLink

On this day in 1985, soda giant Coca-Cola unveils plans to put "Coca-Cola Classic" on the market. In actuality "Coca-Cola Classic" is the original soft drink that put the soda company on top. Earlier in the year the Coca-Cola Company decided to change recipes for their flagship beverage after a series of positive tests conducted for the new recipe. The tests did not effectively gauge how the public would accept the new "Coke" and after harsh reviews and declining sales Coke decided rather than admit defeat over their new soda they would remarket the original recipe by renaming it "Coca-Cola Classic." The company did not completely forsake their new recipe though; they decided to sell it simply as "Coke."